Why are there persistent racial wage disparities in the United States, and how can Du Bois help us to understand these disparities?

As we have seen in numerous readings, race has been and continues to be a central axis of differentiation within the American workplace. Your assignment is to first take a look at “Earnings Disparities by Race and Ethnicity ” data from the US Department Of Labor. You must consider the national level data (located at the top of the page), but you are also welcome to consider the state-level data if you wish. How might Du Bois explain these data? And what is your own assessment of a Du Boisian approach? Much has changed within the United States and globally since the publication of Black Reconstruction in America, do you think his framework is useful for understanding these contemporary data? Why or why not?  

Grades will be based on three categories: 1) You must demonstrate a clear understanding of Du Bois’s argument about race and labor as presented in Black Reconstruction in America (4 points); 2) You must critically assess how his understanding might apply to the contemporary data in responding to the writing prompt. Furthermore, you must make a clear argument about why there are persistent racial wage disparities in the United States. You may or may not think that Du Bois helps explain this persistence, but you need to explain your position. (8 points); 3) Professionalism (3 points).

The paper should be 2-3 double spaced pages, using a normal font and normal margins. Use APA citation style. You are not required or expected to use sources beyond those from class. However, if you do use outside sources, please be sure to include a bibliograhy.